First: Don't Be a Cheapskate. You would be better off waiting and saving more money to get a good acoustic guitar for beginners to learn on, rather than to spend less money, but end up with a piece-of-junk toy shaped like a guitar. There really isn't much out there worth considering for less than about $200. The quality can be so bad that you literally can't get a decent sound out of the instrument, no matter how good you are. But with www.alex-bach.com a little more money, especially approaching the $399 price range, you can get a pretty awesome instrument.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0O4FhwFKxQ
One example is the Seagull S6. It reviews very well, with almost no negative comments, and a lot of positive ones. Overall, while you could spend half this much, or even less, for your guitar, in this case, you really do get what you pay for. Even the Yamaha FG700s, as good as it is, and coming in around $200, is not even in the same league with the S6 Seagull.
Second: Watch the Action. The "action" of a guitar is simply how high above the fretboard the strings float, about midway up the neck. If the strings ride too high, they are hard to push down into good contact with the fret, leading to notes that don't speak, buzzes, and accidentally muted notes. What's more, a high action can hurt the beginning player's fingertips more, since they have to press the strings down harder. If the strings are too low, especially on inferior guitars, then a lot of notes along the string's length will buzz against frets above; again, an undesirable result.
Your solution? Watch for user reports of an agreeable action height, buzz-free sound, ease of playing, etc. These are all indicators of an action set at just about the right height (and of a relatively straight guitar neck, too). The combination of sloppy action height and bad neck workmanship will leave a budget guitar buyer very unhappy with their purchase.
3. Take advice from those with experience. The Internet has made it much easier to get a review of just about anything, including acoustic guitars. What do fifteen other people who actually bought the guitar you are looking at think of their purchase now? Are they thrilled, ho-hum satisfied, or are they unhappy campers? Above all, see www.alex-bach.com if they enjoy playing the instrument, and if they think it sounds good. The reviews are telling you, if you'll just go find them.
All in all, this author believes the Seagull S6 to be the best possible choice for the serious beginner, because its quality and innovation will frankly make the new player sound much better; read the full review to get the whole story.
By: Arlen Card
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
See examples of thorough reviews of the Seagull S6 acoustic guitar mentioned above, complete with video, star ratings, feature lists, and accurate "pros and cons" at AcousticGuitarHub.com using the link below.
